Arlington, Va., Sep 15, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Tragedy once again struck the battered Torres family as Susan Anne Catherine Torres, born prematurely following a three month struggle to keep her 26-year old mother Susan Torres alive, died Monday of heart failure.
The baby was born on August 2nd following a tumultuous struggle which gripped the hearts of many. Susan suffered a stroke on Mother’s Day of this year caused when severe and undiagnosed cancer spread to her brain.

The devout Catholic was kept alive at a Washington DC hospital in an effort to bring the baby in her womb to term.

Susan died on August 3rd, the day after her daughter was born.

Justin Torres, Susan’s brother in law and spokesman for the family said in a statement that, "After the efforts of this summer to bring her into the world, this is obviously a devastating loss."

"We wish”, he said, “to thank all the people who sustained us in prayer over the past 17 weeks. It was our fondest wish that we could have been able to share Susan’s homecoming with the world."

Upon hearing the news, Arlington’s Bishop Paul S. Loverde, said: "At this painful moment of redoubled loss, we commend Jason and the entire Torres family to the Lord in prayer.

“Confident that Susan Anne Catherine Torres is already reunited with her mother,” he continued, “we thank the Lord for their witness and for the gift of their courageous lives. May the Lord draw close to the Torres family at this time and provide them with comfort and peace where words fail."